34. Tahlia

Wool and thorns cocooned Tahlia. Her lips wouldn’t part because her tongue was so dry that it stuck fast to the roof of her mouth. Her eyes refused to open even a crack. She heard the rumble and lilt of male and female voices, but the thorny wool enclosed her head and ears, too. She couldn’t make out any words. She longed to shout for them to take this off of her, to pull her free…

Dreams and nightmares twisted through her mind. She fell through the clouds. Lija shrieked. Fara called her name. Marius ordered someone to stand down, to back away. None of it made any sense. Her mind swam and her stomach rolled. A bitter taste hit her tongue.

Her eyes flew open. Threads of connection flickered here and there, but they were faint, like ghosts of what she’d seen during the fight with Ophelia.

Fara was there, mouth dropping open. “You’re not dead! Woooo!”

Tahlia gave a weak laugh. “What’s happening?” Light stone walls surrounded her. A long window let in the soft glow of maybe sunset?

“You’re home. I mean, at the order’s keep.”

“Is Marius… Lija?”

Fara held out her hands. “They’re both fine.” Her features had gone flat, her usual fire dimmed for some purpose—perhaps to calm Tahlia.

“You’re not telling me something.”

Taking a breath, Fara gripped Tahlia’s fingers lightly. “Healer Albus is worried that Lija will, um, take a long time to fly again.”

Tahlia squeezed Fara’s hand. “But she will fly again?”

“He’s not sure. Now, be still. I need to mix up a draught for you.” Fara went to the long table at the far side of the room and banged about with a mortar and pestle. She whistled as she worked.

Tahlia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to slow her heart.

Lija?

Ah, rider. You’re awake.

It’s so good to hear your voice. Understatement of this eon. Tahlia didn’t want to bring up the flying issue. Can you sense my Weaver magic?

Yes, but it rests. You don’t need it at the moment. I believe it will rise if you call to it.

I have no idea how to do that.

I assume whatever you choose to do to call that power forth will work, as you are its master.

Thanks, Lija. I’m just so happy you’re all right.

I am angry but alive and grateful, too. But I to go into battle with you properly. Don’t say that won’t happen someday.

I don’t think that will be a problem.

Fara returned with a tiny crockery cup and held it out for Tahlia to take.“So glad you’re not dead.”

Tahlia finished the cup and set it on the side table. Fara gulped a sob and lunged, landing a hug on Tahlia that could have beat every hug in history.

They cried together, laughing too, and trading words that made little sense to the world but everything to them.

A soft knock sounded at the open doorway. Fara moved away and there was Marius. A shuddering sigh left Tahlia. He was whole. His eyes were his eyes. The curse was gone. She could leap from one mountain to another. Nothing was impossible if she had Fara, Lija, and Marius.

“I can come back later if you would like more time to catch up,” he said, his deep voice a warm blanket, a sparkling fire, the best wine in all the realms.

“Oh, no,” Fara said, gathering her bag and a cloak she’d had draped over her chair. “I wouldn’t come between you two for anything.” She pointed a finger at Marius and scowled. “But you’d better not get her all riled up. She needs rest.”

Marius’s stormy eyes twinkled. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Tahlia truly hoped he would.

Fara waved a goodbye and scurried out, mumbling something about the kitchens and some fresh bread.

Striding forward on his long, long legs, Marius gave Tahlia what could only be described as a dark smile. She loved every bit of it.

“You gave me a terrible scare, little salty.”

He sat on the side of the bed and she turned to her side to face him.

“I was only getting you back for all that creepy possessed stuff you threw at me.”

Wincing, he reached for her arm. His warm fingers curled around her cool skin, and she swallowed. “I’m so sorry, Tahlia. Truly. I should have been far more aggressive with outing Ophelia as the villain she was.”

“Yes, you should have. But I should have spoken up and demanded to be heard, too.” She traced a line across his knuckles and the scars he’d gained from fighting over the years. She wanted to learn about them all. “But she’s gone for good. Right?”

“She is.” He leaned forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. The graze of his thumb on her cheek threw sparks down her neck.

Leaning into his hand, she breathed him in and let a tear fall down her cheek. He cupped her face in the way he had pretended to back in the forest in the land of spirits.

She savored the moment, reveling in the peace that emanated from him. “It’s so good to be able to touch you.”

“I confess. I’m still nervous about doing so,” Marius said.

“But the curse is broken. All is well.”

His jaw worked, and he looked out the window. The reflection of the clouds flew across his slitted irises. “It is. But it was…”

Tahlia rubbed the back of his hand. “It was awful. Yes. All of it. Except for that wild magic the goddess gave me.”

She told him the tale of the threads and the strange vision of Mother Twilight during the fight.

Marius was shaking his head and the hint of a smile pulled the corners of his mouth. “You grow more amazing every day, my love.”

She sat up and he quickly moved to help her get comfortable with more pillows than anyone could possibly need at her back. Then she couldn’t take it one more second and she wrapped her arms around him in full. More tears burned their way down her cheeks. He buried his face in her hair.

“My lady. I love you so,” he whispered, his breath hot on her ear.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly but thoroughly, his lips floating across hers and his thumbs stroking the pulse point under her jaw. His tongue darted into her mouth and her heart skipped. She pushed into the kiss, shoving her hands into his Fae-white hair.

“You can’t stand that I’m properly groomed, can you?” he asked, chuckling against her temple.

“No, I can’t.” She laughed. “I’ll always be the one to muss you up, High Captain.”

“Oh, you’ll have to call me commander now, I’m afraid.”

She pulled away. “Really? How long have I been out?”

“A few days, but we had to act quickly. A few of the more power-grasping Bloodworkers attempted to press their case and try their hand at leading the order. We had to put a quick stop to that madness.”

“How did you manage?”

“Well, it began with Fara attacking the main player in the attempted coup.”

Tahlia barked a laugh. “Of course it did.”

“Once we pulled her off, I knew we had to act swiftly. Fara was only doing what all of us wished to do. That female knows no fear when it comes to defending you.”

“And you now, too, I bet.”

“Yes, said Bloodworker made a derogatory remark about our upcoming ceremony. By the way, you need to choose where to hold the ritual. King Lysanael and Queen Revna have invited us to bond at the menhir near the Gwerhune, but they said there is also a sacred standing stone on the land the king gave you upon winning the tournament.”

Tahlia held her breath. “What ceremony?”

“You’re welcome to call it off, but I assumed you would want to wed me as soon as you were awake.”

Tahlia jumped at him, landing in his lap, body aching and heart dancing. She kissed his forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, and down his gorgeous neck. “Yes, yes, yes!”

He laughed loud then, a sound that would have brought her back to life if the curse had won the day. Gods, he was so beautiful. The knot in his throat bobbed as he laughed, and the corners of his eyes crinkled.

“Please always laugh like that, my delicious commander.” She slid her palms up his broad chest, enjoying the feel of the powerful muscle under his thin woolen tunic.

He looked down at her, eyes practically smoking. “I will do as you ask, Lady of the Skies. You are an absolute madwoman in battle, and in bed, and I am at your mercy in every situation.” He kissed her again. “But don’t tell anyone else or I’ll lose my job.”

They laughed, and it was a dream she hadn’t dared to dream coming true. They were healed, happy, and together. She refrained from pinching herself to make certain she was awake, but it was a close thing.

“So when is the bonding ritual? Do we have a date?” she asked, more than prepared to leave the Healers’ quarters immediately.